Apparatus for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.



W. A. BOYDEN. APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF noo'rs AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1911.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914 AWE/vim?v j wjgm I use in the manufacture UNITEDSTATES ?TENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BOYDEN, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

1 094 547? Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 28, 1914.

Application filed June 21, 1911. Serial No. 634,503.

with water up to the level of the intake end of the discharge pipe 12,thereby maintaining the section 8 of the steam pipe always submerged. Iprefer this arrangement for the reason that it affords a comparativelylarge body of steam or hot vapor to act upon the shoe and particularlybecause this arrangement enables the workman to regulate the temperatureof the vapor easily by manipulating the valve 10. Furthermore, the bodyof water cools off the steam to such a degree that the danger of burningthe shoe, which otherwise would be considerable due to variations insteam pressure, is practically eliminated. It should be noted that thesteam pipe 6 enters the tank above the water line and thus avoids thenecessity of providing a tight joint at this point.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. BOYDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain lmprovements in Apparatus for Usein the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, of ivhich the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating likeparts in the several figures.

This invention relates to The lasting operations on of shoes result indamaging a very sub tial percentage ot the shoes by causing the leatherto crack or break where it is ulled ti htl over the toe of the last.This e ect is The front wall of the tank 2 is provided particularlytroublesome where lasts having with two apertures 14 preferably shapedto high toes are used. It has beenluuhd that accommodate the toe of ashoe when suported sole upward. The end sections of the tank 2 areextended and hold between them a shoe rest which may consist of a boarnotched at 18 to engage the upper of the shoe and support it in invertedposition with its toe in the tank. The metal lining of the tank is cutaway at the holes 14 to such an extent that the wood of the tankprotects the shoe from contact with the metal which might burn ordiscolor the shoe.

- In using the apparatus, the usually lasts the sides and heel of overshoe and then supports it in the rest 16 with its toe projecting intothe tank where it will be subjected to the action of the vapors risingfrom the body of water. The workman next lasts the sides and heel ofanother shoe and places it in the rest 16 with its toe in positionto besteamed. Usually the first shoe has become sutficiently softened by thistime to last easily and the workman therefore removes it-and lasts ththe damage produced in this manner can be very materially reduced andthat the lasting of the toe portion of the shoe can be facilitated bysubjecting this part of the shoe to the action of hot steam or vapororior to the lasting operation. One of the di culties encountered intreating shoesin this manner, however, is that of burning or snrivelingup the upper leather caused by subjecting it to too high a temperature.

It is a particular object of the present invention to devise anapparatus for treating portions of shoes by steam or vapor in the mannerabove indicated in which the temperature of the va or can be readilycontrolled and in which the danger of burning the shoe shall besubstantially eliminated.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the figure of theaccompanying drawing.

Theapparatus shown comprises a tank 2 which may conveniently be made ofwood and lined with sheet metal as indicated at A steam pipe 6 is ledinto the tank and 1s 'oined to a perforated pipe section. lying alongthe bottom of the tank. The pipe 6 15 connected through a suitable valve10 with a workman e toe while the leather is still hot and moist. I havefound that the treatment of. the stock in this manner makes the lastingof the toe very much coli 'thpser'mbling the workman to last steamsupply. In order to carry away the mores oesm' a given time; that itavoids condensed steam,.a drip or discharge ipe 12 most of the damagethat heretofore has been is led into the tank and has its inta e enexperienced m lasting toes and that the toe dries out in 8, bettercondition than c-avhen treated in accordance with the methods heretoforeprec 1 positioned in the tank above the level of the )erforated section8. It Wlll be evident 'izherefore, that the tank will always be ed touchhis fingers nfithe water quickly with-l but for possible I prefer todepth of water and does not I 80 For the latter grades of work,

that will keep the water I of the little (1 as for m ost'leatherssatisfactory results can be obtained by so regulating the temperaturethat the workman can just one being sealded. I p

In treating the better grades of shoes, prefer to use the appar inletpipe submerged to a considerable depth since the steam then rises fromthe water in a very saturated condition and thoroughly penetrates theparts of the upper stock that 'must be disposed about the toe of theshoe; the cheaper grades of work where the shoes must be kept moving asrapidly as i use .drier stealn which penetrates the leather more quicklywithout stifi'ener and lining as more saturated vapor. therefore, I drippipe to a point just above the level perforation at the bottom of thesteam 8. The steam in entering the tank, passes through a very shallowtake up as much moisture as it would otherwise. I find that shoestreated in the apparatus, when so ad justed, dry very quic ly and are.therefore ready for the subsequent operations with but ela It will libobvious that shoes can be treated advantage before they are lower theend of the p p therefore,

1n this manner to pulled over.

Having fully descrlbed my invention, what Copies of this patent may beWashington,

having its i above the level of th scribed,

inl ch and steam into s pipe having tank ata sitioned adj ingconstructed to from said body of only In testimony whereof name to thisspecification two subscribing witnesses.

obtained for five cents each,

a shoe,

and a discharge pipe positioned in the tank comprising a tank having aplurality of apertures each shaped for the reception of the toe of etpipe positioned in said tank, a dis a perforated steam arge pipe havingits intake end positioned the tank above a rest the level ofthe steampipe, for supporting a shoe with its toe one of said apertures.

n apparatus of scribed, comprising a tank for a Water, a steam inlet paid body its intake end opening point above the level at which the steamis discharged, and a shoe support poacent to said direct the vaporrising Water against a portion of the shoe sustained by said support.

the character debody of ipe arranged to deliver of water, a dischargeinto said tank, said tank be- I have signed my in the presence ofWitnesses DAVID \V. BATTLES, JOHN H. MoCREAnY.

by addressing the D 0 "Commissioner of Patents,

